Written 14.o3.o8
Giving my love to: little0maggie, Phoenixe825, Mrs. Radcliffe 13, Serenity984, AnimePinkCess, the-lioness, SpiffyCookie, Waltz Turner, Karush, SkuAg.OMFG-Roach, BlackMage16, Raspberrycharm., Rewind Soldier and bRattY-eBonY-cArcAss17,Thank you ALL!
Special shoutout to Serenity984. Thanks for the in-depth review. It was good to see your perspective on those matters.
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My Funny Valentine
Chapter Seventeen
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Mimi angrily scolded him when he impulsively rang her up. This was mainly because he had caught her in between witnessing her father going through a business-like interview with Taichi. Mimi described that her father was determined to pinpoint some sort of rotten delinquent quality hidden beneath her boyfriend's demeanour. She was an only child after all. Parents with one child were often were protective – especially when they had a single daughter. In this case that was the ulterior reason to her father's tormenting interrogation. Poor Taichi would be suffering from his father-in-law's strenuous tests.
Before she hanged up on him, they had chosen a date to meet up at her apartment when she returned from her hometown. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be a week until both Taichi and she were to return. It was already midweek, therefore there were only a few days till Yamato would meet up with Sora's best friend.
Soon enough Yamato was confronted with yet another crucial thing that squeezed into his heavy recording schedule…his grandparents were back in Tokyo. After touring various old landmarks, they had only returned to announce that they would be leaving for France in a couple of hours. He was well aware that it had been his spontaneous grandmother who had made the typical last-minute decision. He excused himself from his music recordings, to Kanji's dismay, and contacted Jyou to give him a lift to the airport – which was where he was.
Yamato caught up with them at the terminal after he catching sight of a small throng of people huddled together. Amongst them were his brother, mother and Hikari. A lump formed on his throat as he suddenly realised who else should have been there. Takeru was already aware that there was a minor strain between Sora and him, but he hadn't given him the full detail. So Takeru was quite baffled when he noticed that his sister-in-law wasn't accompanied by him.
"Where is she?" he asked, taking him aside for the rest of his family.
"I told you…we had a fight."
"I didn't think it was that serious! Why didn't you tell me? You're always brief when it comes to-"
"I'll tell you next time," he cut his brother off. He pulled on a striking smile as his he caught the surveying gazes delivered from his grandparents. "Not now. They're leaving. After this, it won't matter at all."
Takeru persisted, "But-"
Yamato walked away before his brother had the opportunity to continue and embraced each of his grandparents with gigantic bear hugs and in the process gave a brief acknowledging nod his mother and Hikari. From the little time spent with his grandparents, he still was pretty saddened to have them leave. Even if they had strong beliefs, stood their ground and were quite different…he knew he'd miss them. If they hadn't come…would he have even gotten to know Sora a bit more?
"So…where's your wife?" his grandfather questioned the obvious, leaping straight to the point and taking him away from his short-period contemplative state. One way or another, he knew one of his grandparents would address the matter. They weren't the type to let go of things or to turn a blind eye to them either.
"She couldn't make it," he said, trying not to blink from his grandfather's scrutiny. He couldn't look at him any longer, shuffling on his feet to see his younger sibling shaking his head at his inferior lying skills.
Yet, it still worked on his grandmother.
"Oh, that's woman's awfully busy with her clothing line lately. We were going to arrange another small wedding for next year…" she spoke, clicking her tongue.
His mother was no looking at him with some sort of seriousness. She also was aware of the whole-wife-plotting from Takeru.
"Not if we beat them first," Kari smartly cut in to put the attention on them. "I'm still waiting for my proposal, TK."
He chuckled, playing along and scratching his head. "What about Amanda, Mary-Ellen, Lisa, Yuki and-"
"Have you been with other woman, Takeru?" his grandfather said gruffly, taking the bait.
Hikari hit him on the head, "Stop trying to make it sound like you're a player!" Her eyes flickered towards his grandparents. "Don't worry about him, he's only referring to his fish. If he cheats on me…I will succeed the art of castration."
"Ouch," Takeru grimaced. Yamato cringed at the thought as well. "That's tough."
"It'll serve you right. That's why you wouldn't," she stated mischievously, planting a kiss on his cheek.
When it was time for his grandparents to board the plane, they all exchanged more farewells and he watched his mother cry at her parents' departure, clinging onto them like a little girl.
He gave his grandfather one final embrace when he heard him whisper in his ear. "You think you've fooled both of us…but you're grandmother and I are pretty sharp. Make up with her, will you?"
He let go. "I-"
"You love her. We all saw it. What other possible reason do you need, my boy?"
His grandfather left him astounded at the terminal, with his brother screamed good-byes in his ear like a five-year-old. The words continued to echo in his mind as he was being driven back to his residence.
"You alright, man? You look a bit pale," Jyou questioned in concern.
"Fine. Just fine," he said tersely, playing with his hands.
The song ended on the radio so Jyou switched it on to the news. Yamato was already accustomed to his driver's habit because he was an avid news listener – claiming that one should always be updated the world and what was going on around them. But his ears stung when he heard the radio MC speak.
"On other news, Soar to the Sky designs has released a new range of clothing. Ever since its release through various stores in Japan, Sora Takenouchi has gained great success with her wonderful unique designs. Takenouchi has also-"
There was a buzz of static and a sensation of relief settled his stomach. He didn't have to ask Jyou to change the station. One of KAT-TUN's new songs was now currently blaring from the speakers – the band that once had been the Teen-Age Wolves competitors. But her name kept repeating on his head. "I can't go home," he said. "Jyou, just take me there please."
"Where?"
"You know where."
Jyou paused for a bit, absorbing what he had just spoken before redirecting the car to the opposite direction. Subsequently he farewelled his driver when he found himself facing the familiar bar observing each and every intricate detail that he was used to. From the small cracks in the bricks to the bits of ivy snaking around the pipes, he took a deep breath and entered.
It was like he was a foreigner again. It had been such a long time since he had been there. He had wanted to go there many times, but never gained the courage. It had been his sanctuary. But now…what was it? His own sanctuary of short memories? He didn't know. It wasn't meant to be related to her. But now…it was.
She was working again.
Hell, that girl always worked. She wasn't like those girls who would put a false smile greeting a customer, nor was she one of those girls who would rush out as soon as her shift was over. He knew that. It seemed that she 'actually' enjoyed working at the tavern.
Her head would bop to the music, as she would open beer stubs, keep the customer talking and pinpoint parts of the music she liked. Her work seemed more a hobby. It was her natural environment.
Plus, not only did they have ambiguous talks about music…they'd have the accidental talks about life, reality and other random thought that would come up. Sometimes they'd be in depth; sometimes they'd be simple.
He watched her from the distance. Attired in her black uniform, she wiped the table's surface in front of him. As she bent over, a sly smirk tingled his facial expression and gave a sharp pitchy whistle. He anticipated her jump and his smirk widened when she turned around to face him. Her automatic scowl disappeared and hunched shoulders relaxed when she saw the person give a hasty exaggerated wave in the air. She laughed. Head titled back, smile tingling on her lips as she headed towards him.
"You're here again."
"I am," he agreed. "Needed time alone. Works had me stressed lately."
She nodded. "Consider yourself saved."
"Saved?"
"It's good to take a break once in a while, Matthew," she said. "Music is a therapy."
"Somewhat," he commented, thinking of how hard Kanji had been treating his band. "Music's like love. For me, it's love and hate."
"That's a broad statement, even for you. You usually are in the middle when it comes to our little debates."
"Love doesn't always exist, Sora," he laughed quietly. "Somewhere along the line, relationships stuff up."
"Not always," she paused, pondering as her eyes met his. "I personally think it depends on the people in relationships."
"How so?"
"If they're willing to try. If they're willing to hope."
"Hoping isn't always good when not everything works out," he said.
"Sometimes hope is all that we have…even if you find love non-existent. Deep down, everybody wants to be loved," she said. She cleared his table. "I do. I know you do too."
She wasn't there.
Should he be surprised? He didn't know...
He advanced to the bar and was about to say a hello to Suzanne until he realised that she was busy serving a customer. His eyes darted around the old surrounding, feeling a waver of confusion. Usually, he had to scurry to find himself a table…but at that moment there were so many vacant tables. The number of people that attended the bar had dropped dramatically.
He felt Suzanne tend to his side, following his gaze at the practically empty bar. "Not lively, is it?"
"It sure is quieter than usual," he conceded.
"I'm pretty sure it has to do with Alejandro getting a record deal," she voiced her thoughts. He thought that it was true. It sort of reminded him of the first time he had come to jazz bar. He couldn't forget the night he witnessed Alejandro's fingers beating fast tricky staccato notes to slow diminuendo. Looking back, he wasn't playing jazz on that night. He was playing the classical Polonaise Op.53 in A-flat by Chopin. From watching him play, he stayed for many hours to see him perform other jazz pieces. If it hadn't been for Alejandro's playing he wouldn't have met Suzanne - or Sora…
He frowned. With Alejandro's presence not being there, the whole vibe was low and distant. The music wasn't the same either. Instead of the beautiful notes flowing from the pianoforte, it was replaced with cheap instrumental melodies coming from a CD player. Even though it wasn't terrible, it was not even a close match or comparison to what Alejandro could do.
"The business has been pretty blue. I was joking with the owner to make this bar solely on blues," Suzanne explained. "I don't think he found it amusing."
"I'm sure he didn't."
"We tried getting someone knew…but no one could live up to Alejandro, ya know?" she sighed. "So why are you here? Alejandro's not playing anymore…this place has the atmosphere like a ghost town."
"A drink would be good."
She rolled her eyes, pouring a pint of water and pushing it to him. "I take that back. I know your sincere motive to why you're here."
"How so?" He arched one of his eyebrows, unsure where their conversation was going.
"It's Saturday night, Matthew. You should be out with your friends hanging out. Yet, you're here. Sure, I know you used to come here a lot. But those reasons why you came are no longer here. I may be an old woman, but I know when I see something that doesn't click."
"You're not that old," he muttered honestly.
"Don't flatter me, boy," she spoke. "Honey, she's not going to come here. She's been avoiding this joint like the plague."
"I'm not even thinking about Sora!"
"Then how did you know I was speaking about her?" she said cruelly. "You're not that difficult to read."
"So you knew my intentions from the moment I walked in?" he cajoled.
"Off course," she beamed. "From the beginning you shyly bowed your head to me and asked her name. Off course I knew."
"It was for wanting to know her music views-"
"And a lot more," Suzanne winked.
"I give up. You've been twisting all my words."
"That's what I'm here for," she teased.
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Perhaps he now had an idea to why his best friend wasn't really content in moving into Mimi's apartment straightaway. Every wall that held up her residence was a pale pink. It's not the walls that bothered him. Besides the walls, the decorations, centerpieces, paintings were all hot pink. He took a seat next to Taichi whose eyes were glued onto the television screen as if he was gripping for his dear life.
No matter what situation his best friend was in, anything concerning some sort of gaming made literally anything seem positive. It took Yamato a while to capture Taichi's attention to show that he had come over. After a few waves in the face, he lost concentration causing his character to be trampled by a load of stones from the other opponent. He gained a lot of sucker punches from him after his loss. Taichi was then even more determined to rematch and was still at it.
"You're here, Yamato. You might as well talk," Mimi said sharply. Ever since his arrival at her apartment, the air was tense and it felt like he was walking on eggshells whenever he spoke to her.
"Uhh…you see…"
"DAMN IT! YOU'RE A CHEAT! I WAS THERE FIRST!" Taichi boomed, fighting vigorously with the screen. "You're an asshole!"
Mimi rolled her eyes, already accustomed to his loud outbursts. It wasn't possible for them to talk about Sora when Taichi was screeching his lungs out over one of his games. She nudged her head towards the kitchen for them to go. When they did, she pulled out a bowl of Doritos and a glass of pineapple flavoured cordial (Yamato was glad it wasn't strawberry because he wasn't sure if he could take the pinkness any longer).
Before he even took a sip, she was at him like a hawk. Her hand slammed down on the counter. "Don't you think it's two months late that you come prancing in here for my advice?"
"So many things happened…I wasn't sure-"
"Yamato, I was your source from the start!" she barked hysterically, throwing her hands up in the air as she hyperventilated. "Why didn't you come earlier?"
"I don't know," he said truthfully. "She confuses the hell out of me."
"The same goes for her," Mimi said, shaking her head. "The both of you are so stuffed up it's hard to explain. It's like I'm your official marriage counselor."
"Is she mad at me?"
"Dear, she was so furious. I think she's more or less settled down now. She was so furious that she even drastically cut her hair to forget about everything! And she had beautiful hair, mind you. Seeing it shoulder-length kills me every time I look at it," Mimi laughed lividly. "She's really pissed off at you at the moment because she thinks that you think that she's a gold digger."
"I never thought-"
"And the fact that you…well…you slept with her – which she doesn't blame you for."
"Then she's furious with herself for sleeping with me?" he grumbled. "I don't understand where you're heading, Meems."
"What I'm trying to say is that there's more to her, Yamato."
"I wasn't implying she was a prostitute or something," Yamato said sarcastically. "It was my fault too. It was the heat of the moment."
"You were her first real relationship. Therefore, you were the first person she slept with. She's uncomfortable about it."
"It's just sex."
"I'm not just talking about your night together…I'm just saying in general. Do you know why she never was in a relationship during high school, Yamato?" she asked seriously, looking him in the eye with such intensity that it made the hairs on his skin stand up.
"Well…she did mention once before that she never had a proper relationship," he started.
"Did it ever occur to you that you should have asked?" Mimi queried. "This is another reason why guys can be so hopeless."
"Gee, thanks. Could you just tell me, Meems. You're killing me."
"And you haven't been killing her? She's been so stressed out lately, Yamato."
"Tell me," he insisted forcefully.
She took a sip from her own glass, eyes trailing at the magnets on her fridge. "She was always busy during her high school years…with school, work and…her older brother."
He blinked. "Her brother? She has a brother?" he said curiously.
"Had," Mimi corrected. "Every day after school, besides the days she'd work at the florist, she'd go to the hospital to visit him. He had leukemia."
"Leukemia? Isn't that treatable?"
"It depends. Sora was too busy with being at her brother's side that she rejected everyone who asked her out…even Tai asked her out one time," she laughed. "I was jealous."
"Leukemia," he repeated. His heart dropped. She had been hiding this all along? "That's also the reason she didn't go to the school deb?"
"He died on that night," Mimi said. "She still blames herself, you know?"
"Why?"
"The hospital took bone marrow from her so that they could administer it to her brother. But it didn't work out…his immune system ended up fighting her bone marrow instead of accepting it," Mimi told. "I was never her best friend, Yamato. Her best friend had always been her brother."
"Then I shouldn't have been an ass on her a week ago. I thought I had it bad…but," he said to no one in specific.
"You talked to her a week ago?" she spluttered but saw him speed out the kitchen into the lounge room. "Yamato, WAIT!"
He pulled on his shoes and ran out of the apartment. He was pretty sure that Taichi hadn't even noticed him leaving, nor did he care. All he was grateful for was the fact that his apartment was reasonably close to his own. His feet raced down the short-cut alleyways and when he arrived home, he was rummaging through his drawers like a lunatic. It was then that he finally obtained it.
He held the album in his hands, feeling the soft ribbons pierce his skin. He dropped onto the bed stomach-first and slowly flipped through the pages of Sora's photo album. He had meant to give it back to her a while ago, but he had kept it. Even after their awkward dispute, he had forgotten that he still possessed it.
From the first page he then noticed that there were pictures missing. He even caught some captions that he hadn't seen earlier. Like Sato pushing Sora on the swings or the Sato and Sora fighting over ice cream. But with those captions, there were no pictures available. It was as if the memories never happened. As the pictures progressed and as she grew older, her large goofy smile gradually turned mature and…sad?
There were still plenty gaps in the album missing. He recalled Sora saying that her father had stolen the pictures on the album because he lived in Kyoto. She must have lied. She either didn't want him to see the photos of her brother or she just didn't want to see them herself. It all made sense now.
Somehow Sora was no longer appeared as mysterious as he had thought her to be.
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(a/n) Again, I thought this chapter would be longer because of all the content I put in. I think it's got to do with how I chopped off some stuff and was meant to drag on things a bit longer – but I didn't find it necessary, which was why I didn't. Three more chapters left! Thanks for checking this out, guys!
Heart ya!
Flipstahhz